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. Previously published: Kenneth Curry (ed.), New Letters of Robert Southey, 2 vols (London and New York, 1965), I, pp. 79–80.
These letters were edited with the assistance of Carol Bolton, Tim Fulford and Ian Packer
For permission to publish the text of MSS in their possession, the editor wishes to thank the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library, Yale University; Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations; the Bodleian Library Oxford University; the British Library; Boston Public Library; the Syndics of Cambridge University Library; the Syndics of the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge; Haverford College, Connecticut; the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; the Hornby Library, Liverpool Libraries and Information Services; the Houghton Library, Harvard University; the John Rylands Library, Manchester; the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas; Luton Museum (Bedfordshire County Council); Massachusetts Historical Society; McGill University Library; the National Library of Scotland; the Newberry Library, Chicago; the New York Public Library (Pforzheimer Collections); the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York; the Public Record Offices of Bedford, Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds) and Northumberland, the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge; the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne; the Trustees of the William Salt Library, Stafford, the Wisbech and Fenland Museum; the University of Virginia Library.
A research grant from the British Academy made much of the archival work possible, as did support from the English Department of Nottingham Trent University.
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Southey's spelling has not been regularized.
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Your
letter my dear Bedford vexes me
considerably. you must be sensible that I have avoided writing to you upon
those philosophical principles which form the basis of my character — if you
wish to see them ably elucidated read Godwin.with to shield yourself in the cloak of humility — I will never rudely rendx away the mantle which you chuse to interpose between yourself & the sun of Truth. the arguments you adduce to detain me have been often urged — indeed Bedford they merit not a second refutation. with those I most love I am going. even should they remain I do not. of gratitude — but it were useless to enter into disquisition. sorry am I that circumstances should ever make my friend fearful of investigation.
I could point out a strange inconsistency in your letter. but n’importe.
March! March! I would it were come.
the Botany Bay Eclogue I would send but have no copy. they are in the hands of Johnson in Pauls Ch. Yard
Of the Joan. — take the will for the deed. public testimony adds little to private esteem. much of it — particularly the sacrifice of publ private feelings to public duty will not harmonize with your ideas.
Bedford. the man
refine away the feelings! Bedford because I hold gratitude a vice — does my heart beat less warmly to affection. think you that Brutus loved not his children when he condemned them?
you will be happy your way. I mine. your happiness will be less disturbed — mine more keen. God bless you.
in the hour of anguish I can look back upon my past actions & be comforted. the hour of anguish is over.
when I shall see London is quite uncertain. I wish much to see you. I would fain shake hands with Strachey before I quit England.